more on this theme | more from this thinker
Full Idea
Some truths of natural law, concerning guides to moral good and evil, and duties not laid down by civil law and government, are necessarily supplied ot the human mind by the nature of things and of men.
Gist of Idea
Natural law is supplied to the human mind by reality and human nature
Source
Richard Cumberland (De Legibus Naturae [1672], Ch.I.I)
Book Ref
'British Moralists 1650-1800 Vol. 1', ed/tr. Raphael,D.D. [Hackett 1991], p.79
A Reaction
I agree that some moral truths have the power of self-evidence. If you say they are built into the mind, we now ask what did the building, and evolution is the only answer, and hence we distance ourselves from the truths, seeing them as strategies.
| 6217 | Natural law is supplied to the human mind by reality and human nature [Cumberland] |
| 6216 | Natural law is immutable truth giving moral truths and duties independent of society [Cumberland] |
| 6218 | The happiness of individuals is linked to the happiness of everyone (which is individuals taken together) [Cumberland] |
| 6220 | The happiness of all contains the happiness of each, and promotes it [Cumberland] |
| 6222 | If a decision is in accord with right reason, everyone can agree with it [Cumberland] |
| 6221 | If there are different ultimate goods, there will be conflicting good actions, which is impossible [Cumberland] |